WWE SummerSlam 2012: C.M. Punk, Brock Lesnar Stand Tall

WWE SummerSlam returned to the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the fourth consecutive year last night, and Brock Lesnar, Triple H, the Big Show, and CM Punk put on a show.

Fans were treated to 8 matches last night during the annual wrestling Pay-Per-View event. Wrestling fans were also able to watch the fight for the US Title between Santino Marella and Antonio Cesaro live on YouTube.

Santino Marella and Antonio Cesaro

The first match of the night got the crowd going at the Staples Center. It was Cesaro’s first big match, and he walked away with the victory. Cesaro used his finishing move, the neutralizer, before pinning Marella.

After the match, Marella said:

“Simple put, I let my fans down, I’m sorry and need to digest what happened before I figure out what I do next.”

The first big match of the night put two giants in the ring. Jericho was fighting through injuries but promised Ziggler before the fight that he hadn’t lost a step in the wring. Jericho wrote on Twitter.

Kickin off #summerslam tonight! Look out @heelziggler I’m gonna shove my fist right down your throat and u can taste if I’ve lost my touch.

And he was right. Jericho didn’t stick his fist down Ziggler’s throat, but he did stick him in the Walls of Jericho and walked away with the victory.

Kane Vs. Daniel Bryan

It looked like Daniel Bryan’s ego was going to be his downfall during his match at SummerSlam. Instead, it was a crowd pleasing move from Kane that ended this back-and-fourth match. After a choke slam, Kane went in for one last pile driver to finish the match. Bryan was able to reverse it, however, and got the pin.

The Miz Vs. Rey Mysterio: Intercontinental Title

The Miz and Rey Mysterio stepped into the ring at the Staples Center for another title match. It looked like Rey Mysterio had the match under-control, but the Miz ended his hopes at claiming the intercontinental title with a skull-crushing finale.

Sheamus Vs. Alberto Del Rio: World Title

Up to this point, WWE SummerSlam had seen a few relatively clean matches with clear winners. The Sheamus/Alberto Del Rio fight, however, was something different. Del Rio tried several times to cheat and win the match but ended up losing when Sheamus used a shoe to beat Rio over the head. Sheamus was able to pin Del Rio, but even that was controversial. The ref finished the count despite the fact that Del Rio’s foot was on the bottom rope. The fight ended at SummerSlam with Sheamus on top, but the feud between these two is just beginning.

Kingston and R-Truth walked into the ring as the tag team champions. They walked out the same way.

C.M. Punk Vs. Big Show Vs. John Cena: WWE TITLE

The WWE Title match was a fight that ended twice. C.M. Punk and John Cena both had the Big Show in a submission hold when he tapped out. But, since it wasn’t clear who caused the submission, the match was re-started. This time, Punk was able to get the upper hand after tossing Cena from the ring and taking the pin on the Big Show.

Some said that the win was lucky, but, according to C.M. Punk, it was all skill.

I Love @johncena saying I got lucky. It’s not luck, it’s skill. With the odds against me, I won. Not once, but twice. Gotta #respect that.

Before the fight, Triple H told the ref that the only way the fight was going to end was if someone tapped out or if someone got pinned. (Words of wisdom.) Well, HHH tapped out and Lesnar walked away with the victory.

After the match, the WWE was playing up the fact that Triple HHH may be at the end of his career. Do you think the game is over?